morningslive — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:23 +0000

Like anything in the world, trivial annoyances can be categorised by degree.

On one extreme we find the agonizing ‘tooth filling + aluminum foil = excruciating pain’ equation. At the other… Well… Just try eliminating the fake ‘…umm’, no matter how short, from your regular subway order. Due to reasons beyond my control my brain feels compelled to affix an unnecessary ‘um’ when I choose Swiss cheese.

I always choose Swiss cheese.

Perhaps it is a self defense mechanism designed to prevent a complete stranger from knowing how boring I am in constantly ordering the same thing, perhaps it makes me feel better knowing that I am the supreme ruler of this cheese selection domain – toying with cheesy minions all the while knowing ‘Swiss’ would be the answer.

Lying somewhere in between these annoyance ‘poles’ (between physical pain and involuntary brain farts) is Bono.

Bono.

Say it three times quickly and it loses all meaning, much like any word. However unlike most words Bono is the one preferred by Paul David Hewson to describe himself or his on stage persona as the front man for Irish rock band U2.

Henceforth though Bono shall be the collective noun used to describe all the Sir Bob Geldof’s, The John Butler’s & Alec Baldwin’s that feel it is not just their right but duty to preach to us great unwashed about the virtues of donating to those less fortunate.

The Bono’s of the world came under collective fire this week from AC/DC front man Brian Johnson.

“When I was a working man I didn’t want to go to a concert for some bastard to talk down to me that I should be thinking of some kid in Africa,” he told Melbourne’s Herald Sun. “I’m sorry mate, do it yourself, spend some of your own money and get it done. It just makes me angry. I become all tyrannical.”

No doubt Johnson’s comments will make him the target of the Bonoites (the Bonos loyal subjects) and other do-gooder communities.

These loyalists will claim that these modern prophets are easy targets for cynicism.

To be fair their efforts have helped many.

Including themselves.

The second comment needn’t necessarily render the first an act of evil self promotion. Ultimately the ends justify the means – and if the Bono’s gain some benefit career wise while those in poverty get something I am sure that is an arrangement we can all deal with.

The rub comes when modest philanthropy begins to pervade the means by which the Bono got to ‘philanth’ (invented philanthropy verb).

At a U2 concert in 2006 I witnessed this abuse of position.

At AAMI stadium Adelaide, a packed house waited eagerly for one of the biggest acts of a generation. South Australia was fast becoming a ‘fly-over’ state as far as international acts were concerned and the pro U2 buzz was palpable.

As the first wave of sound came crashing over the audience, guided by ‘The Edge’ and cut into with Bono’s distinct voice fans prepared themselves for a truly epic concert experience.

With a tested formula of new songs punctuated by old hits U2 were at their best until inexplicably the music dies…

Silence..

Bono then begins reading the UN charter on human rights.

Another song… Silence…

Bono begins preaching about the plight of children in Africa – something about ‘blind justice’. Then a series of instructions to set your mobile phones Bluetooth mode up so that you can donate to Africa… Or something.

The message gets lost as even the most ardent U2 fans get edgy (mind the pun). Ultimately the concert experience never reaches any lofty heights as each classic is followed by a prolonged sermon.

Soon it becomes apparent that music is only played to keep people entertained between messages. Worthy messages to be sure – but messages latent with a tone that screams ‘I am enlightened let me share my wisdom with you’.

Its hard to feel positive about giving when being spoken down to by someone to which money means nothing. It is hard to convince a stadium of people that giving is their responsibility when you alone are worth more. When you fly in first class, and bring a stage along with you that would be worth more than the GDP of a small African nation.

Bono is where he is because people pay him to entertain them. If he decides to use that wealth to help others – wonderful – however charging people for a sermon is arrogant in the extreme.

It is the equivalent of Bill Gates, who has given nearly $30 billion of his personal wealth to charity, putting a pop – up into his Windows operating system that appears periodically telling you to give.

This is what Brian Johnson is getting at. Sure play a charity gig – but why do it on national television? It would be hard to be cynical if, instead of endless preaching, you knew that by going to each gig a % of your ticket went to charity.

No preaching, no sermon, just the show you paid to see.

Mornings Live Week 1

morningslive — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:49:47 +0000

Good morning everyone!

What a blast today was… our second show down and the rest of the week in news looks to be a great one with climate change set to dominate Canberra this week as the government tries again in parliament with its Emissions Trading Scheme. Will and I spoke yesterday to G Magazine editor Carolyn Barry about a recent article titled ‘SCI-FI Solutions to climate change fact or fiction?’. We spoke about the incredible possible solutions to climate change including building a giant mirror to shield Earth from the sun and mechanical trees to collect Carbon Dioxide… simply amazing stuff!!

Big congrads to AC/DC for getting a Grammy.. I’m coming to see you this month in Melbourne… can’t wait!

Remember you can download Mornings Live episodes At Australia Live TV.

Can’t wait to see you all again tomorrow where we’ll discuss the hot topics of the day!!

Tineka xo